# Need suggestions on a benchtop drill press. **URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-suggestions-on-a-benchtop-drill-press/273707 **Category:** NYSpeed Automotive **Created:** [March 16, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-suggestions-on-a-benchtop-drill-press/273707 "2016-03-16T15:42:32Z") **Posts on this page:** 8 **Page:** 1
### Author: ![Norb\_O](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/norb_o/32/5189_2.png) [@Norb\_O](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Norb_O) #### Post date: [March 16, 2016, 3:42pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-suggestions-on-a-benchtop-drill-press/273707/1 "2016-03-16T15:42:32Z")
I am getting pretty tired of trying to drill something larger with a hand drill and having it jump all over the place. Wanna pick one of these up for the basement shop. Harbor Freight? Used ole Murican iron on craigslist? Something new/good value online? Saw this guy googling: > **[SKIL 3320-01 3.2 Amp 10-Inch Drill Press - Power Magnetic Drill Presses - Amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/SKIL-3320-01-10-Inch-Drill-Press/dp/B003LSSS0W)** > > SKIL 10 In. 5 Speed Drill I don’t need anything wild and crazy. Adjustable speeds would be nice, don’t plan on going bigger than a 1/2" bit (whichever shank that is). Mostly drill plate steel, stainless, tubing, etc. Rarely wood. How about mini-vises to hold the workpiece? ---
### Author: ![93dx\_hatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/90ced4/32.png) [@93dx\_hatch](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/93dx_hatch) #### Post date: [March 16, 2016, 6:53pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-suggestions-on-a-benchtop-drill-press/273707/2 "2016-03-16T18:53:10Z")
That looks exactly like the Ryobi Drill press that I have, I use it for woodworking more than metal, but it is great for the price. ![http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFg5MDA=/z/CXYAAOSwZ8ZW12E5/$_35.JPG?set_id=880000500F](http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFg5MDA=/z/CXYAAOSwZ8ZW12E5/%24_35.JPG?set_id=880000500F) ---
### Author: ![travisn](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/travisn/32/5046_2.png) [@travisn](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/travisn) #### Post date: [March 16, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-suggestions-on-a-benchtop-drill-press/273707/3 "2016-03-16T20:20:48Z")
You definitely want adjustable speeds if you are planning on drilling metal. Preserving bits and making timely/accurate cuts is very dependent on speed. The more rigid the better as well. I’d say scour craigslist and buy more/bigger than what you think need. After using a mill for years I can’t imagine only having a drill press, especially for metal. ---
### Author: ![95dime](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/95dime/32/7514_2.png) [@95dime](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/95dime) #### Post date: [March 16, 2016, 9:04pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-suggestions-on-a-benchtop-drill-press/273707/4 "2016-03-16T21:04:07Z")
find something old. i have an old 50s/60s craftsman drill press. still works like new, better than many newer drill presses i have used. after thoroughly testing it out over the last year i’ve decided i’m going to give it a restore and use for many years to come. the new junk just doesn’t compare unless you shell out serious $$$. edit, this is the drill press. i have a newer floor drill press as well but this one seems to work better. i need to make a new stand for this and my darra james band saw, which is also from the 50’s. ![http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a342/reconrider25/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160317_240810420_zps1ja4hgkp.jpg](http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a342/reconrider25/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160317_240810420_zps1ja4hgkp.jpg) ---
### Author: ![02NismoSpecV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/0/74df32/32.png) [@02NismoSpecV](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/02NismoSpecV) #### Post date: [March 17, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-suggestions-on-a-benchtop-drill-press/273707/5 "2016-03-17T05:06:02Z")
i have a RIGID floor drill press. was like $400 i think? [http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-in-Drill-Press-with-LED-R1500/205653862](http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-in-Drill-Press-with-LED-R1500/205653862) does everything i need it to do. i rarely if ever change the speed. i just leave it on a lower setting because slower saves bits obv. but i would definitely get an adjustable speed for the sake of having it ---
### Author: ![GV1390](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/gv1390/32/5432_2.png) [@GV1390](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/GV1390) #### Post date: [March 17, 2016, 5:26am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-suggestions-on-a-benchtop-drill-press/273707/6 "2016-03-17T05:26:33Z")
I scored an older Craftsman floor drill press for $95 delivered to my door on Craigslist. I’d check there if you haven’t already. ---
### Author: ![Norb\_O](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/norb_o/32/5189_2.png) [@Norb\_O](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Norb_O) #### Post date: [March 17, 2016, 7:04am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-suggestions-on-a-benchtop-drill-press/273707/7 "2016-03-17T07:04:08Z")
I picked up the Skil on amazon last night kinda impulsively along with a small vise. We’ll see how she runs ---
### Author: ![LUC1F3R](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/luc1f3r/32/7299_2.png) [@LUC1F3R](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/LUC1F3R) #### Post date: [March 18, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/need-suggestions-on-a-benchtop-drill-press/273707/8 "2016-03-18T05:05:37Z")
I love that old one posted above. I have an old craftsman and I’ll say that the most important part isnt the press but the vises. I have several, most from harbor freight that get whatever im working on into position. Bought it in 2002 so that i could use a hole saw to cut fish mouths into sched 40 ss for the turbo cavalier i used to have.